Ebony has announced its 2026 Power 100 list, and the class runs deep across sports, entertainment, business and STEM. Jay-Z, Megan Thee Stallion, Keke Palmer, Gina Prince-Bythewood and the New York Knicks champs Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges lead the honorees.
The theme for this year’s list is “The Stories We Shape,” which centers the idea of narrative ownership. Ebony CEO Eden Bridgeman framed it as a record of what leaders are building right now. “This year’s honorees are shaping culture in real time, from the stage and the screen to the boardroom, the lab and the neighborhoods they serve,” she said.
Bridgeman on the List
Bridgeman described the list’s purpose directly. “Recognizing them isn’t only about honoring what they’ve achieved – it’s about recording the history they’re making so the generations behind them can see what’s possible.”
The 2026 class will be celebrated at Ebony’s annual Power 100 Gala on Monday, Nov. 9, at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles. The event begins at 5 p.m. with the red carpet and cocktail hour, followed by the 7:30 p.m. awards ceremony and a 10:30 p.m. post-reception.
“On November 9, we will convene at the Hollywood Palladium to celebrate the individuals whose stories and leadership are shaping this moment, while also recognizing the collective power of a community that continues to drive American culture forward.”
The Categories
The Power 100 honorees are spread across ten categories:
- Artists in Residence
- Business Disruptors
- Community Crusaders
- Entertainment Powerhouses
- Generation Next
- Influential Creators
- Leaders in Sports
- Media Mavens
- Music Innovators
- STEM Trailblazers
New this year is the Junior Bridgeman Business Vanguard, named after the late Ulysses “Junior” Bridgeman, founder of Ebony’s parent company and Bridgeman’s father.
The Sports Champs
The New York Knicks champs fill out the Leaders in Sports category alongside Naomi Osaka, Nneka Ogwumike, Renee Montgomery and Elana Meyers Taylor.
The Entertainment Powerhouses
Keke Palmer, Gina Prince-Bythewood and Pearlena Igbokwe sit together in the Entertainment Powerhouses category, joined by Channing Dungey and Questlove.
The Full List
The complete list is available on Ebony’s website. Here is a taste of who else made the cut:
- Artists in Residence: Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz, Debbie Allen, Colson Whitehead, Charm La’Donna, Rashid Johnson
- Junior Bridgeman Business Vanguard: Latriece Watkins, Byron Allen, Stacy Brown-Philpot, Tope Awotona
- Community Crusaders: Common, Brent Leggs, Artis Stevens, Rev. Shavon Arline-Bradley, Vic Mensa
- Generation Next: Victor Wembanyama, Quenlin Blackwell, Nia Sioux, Jazlyn Guerra, Sean “The Science Kid” Atitogbe
- Influential Creators: iShowSpeed, Marques Brownlee, Wisdom Kaye, Grace Wales Bonner, Michael Seibel
What This List Shows
The Power 100 has been running for more than 80 years, and this year’s class continues that tradition of recognizing innovators, advocates, creatives and leaders across industries. Previous recipients include Academy Award-winning director Ryan Coogler, four-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson, award-winning screenwriter and producer Mara Brock Akil and media personality Scott Evans.
Ebony’s approach to the list is straightforward: it documents Black excellence as it happens. Bridgeman’s framing — that the list records history so younger generations can see what’s possible — is the clearest statement of the publication’s mission.
The list’s categories reflect the breadth of modern Black achievement. From the stage to the boardroom, the honorees represent a generation of leaders who are not waiting for permission.
The Gala Details
The event is produced in partnership with Jesse Collins Entertainment (JCE), the Emmy-winning company behind the BET Awards, the Emmy Awards and the Super Bowl Halftime Show.
The gala is private and invite-only, which means the room will be filled with the people who actually shape culture rather than the ones who cover it.
Our View
This is a strong list. It rewards winners, rising stars and quiet builders alike, and it does so across fields that rarely get the same recognition at once. The Junior Bridgeman Business Vanguard is a fitting addition, honoring entrepreneurship alongside established corporate leadership.
The gala on Nov. 9 will bring these leaders together in one room. For a publication that has spent decades documenting Black excellence, this year’s class is proof that the story is still being shaped.
Source material: “Jay-Z, Megan Thee Stallion, Keke Palmer, Gina Prince-Bythewood and NY Knicks Champs Named to Ebony Power 100 List (EXCLUSIVE),” Variety.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.